Obituary for Raymond Joseph Dion
A few days shy of his 88th birthday, 87-year old Raymond Joseph Dion went home to God on Friday, May 5, 2023 at Bridges of Westford where he had been lovingly cared for over the last year. He was the beloved husband of Marguerite C (Snow) of Chelmsford, to whom he was married for over 63 years.
Born “a River Street American” on May 9, 1935 to George Joseph of Waltham MA and Evelyn Marie (Richard) of Moncton NB, Raymond was raised, worked, married, and lived in Waltham for 36 years. He was the youngest of five, twin to Roland Joseph, and brother to another set of twins Richard Joseph and Robert Joseph, and sister Jeannette. Neighbors were quite fond of the Dion boys, and although the four brothers always referred to each other as “Joe” because of their common middle name, Raymond was distinguishable by his baby blue eyes.
Raymond was raised with a strong Catholic faith which he witnessed through hard work and service to his family, church, and country. As a youngster he delivered newspapers, caddied, and set pins at a local bowling alley. In 1955, he earned both a high school diploma from Waltham High and a vocational degree from Waltham Vocational High before voluntarily enlisting in the US Army. Stationed at Fort Benning GA, Specialist 4th Class Dion was trained as an Artillery Surveyor where he received a Good Conduct Medal and voluntarily helped build a hockey rink during his off-time. Considering himself “the worst shot in this here’s army” and despite the Army’s best pitch to convince him to re-up, he was honorably discharged and returned to Waltham.
While participating in a friend’s wedding, he met the love of his life, Marguerite, who quickly fell for his huge heart, sense of humor, and impressive dancing skills. They courted, married in 1959, and soon moved into a little cape on Mt Walley Rd, just a few doors down from their dear friends, the Simeones. Ray and Marguerite were blessed with a son, David Joseph, in 1964, followed by a daughter, Denise Marie in 1967. Aware their little cape was not an adequate forever-home, Ray moved his family to bucolic Chelmsford in 1971 and expanded the Campanelli ranch by building on a family room and garage and adding meticulous landscaping. This remained Ray’s home for over 50 years until the onset of dementia required his family to make the difficult decision to move him to Bridges of Westford where he received the best possible care, for which his family is eternally grateful.
Ray worked hard his whole life to provide for his family which he saw as his duty and honor. In the early years of his marriage, he drove trucks for Railway Express, took on a morning school bus route, then worked for decades at his brother-in-law’s home improvement company, E.M. Snow, Inc. After retiring, he continued to work at Home Depot where his wide range of trade skills honed after many years of manual labor allowed him to contribute to many departments. After a few years, Ray hung up his hard hat to enjoy a well-deserved respite to spend time with his growing family, root for the Red Sox, Bruins and Patriots, work out to the “Les Miz” soundtrack, and hit the links.
Despite long work days, Ray also made time to work with the local Boy Scouts, the youth of Our Lady’s in Waltham, coach his son David’s hockey teams, volunteer as president of the Chelmsford Hockey Association, attend all his daughter Denise’s cheerleading games, and usher at St. Mary’s in Chelmsford. He was loved and respected by players, parents, and parishioners. His sense of humor was renowned and remained intact throughout his life. His 63+ years of marriage to Marguerite, while sorrowed by the loss of their son David to leukemia in 1988, was full of great joys, notably the marriage of his daughter Denise to Tom Fitzpatrick, the birth of his grandchildren David and Megan, and, of course, his famous hole-in-one.
In addition to his wife, Ray is survived by his daughter Denise and her husband Tom of Groton, their children David and Megan who feel so blessed to have had their Grampy in their lives for so long, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He is welcomed into eternal life by his deceased loved ones, including his parents, siblings, and son, and leaves behind timeless stories, endless smiles, and a well-worn set of golf clubs.
Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 from 3pm to 6pm at Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St, Chelmsford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at 11am at St. Mary Parish, 25 North Rd, Chelmsford. Interment will follow in Pine Ridge Cemetery, 130 Billerica Rd, Chelmsford.
Donations in Ray’s memory to The Paul Center, a summer camp in Chelmsford for young people with special needs, are much appreciated: thepaulcenter.org/.
Born “a River Street American” on May 9, 1935 to George Joseph of Waltham MA and Evelyn Marie (Richard) of Moncton NB, Raymond was raised, worked, married, and lived in Waltham for 36 years. He was the youngest of five, twin to Roland Joseph, and brother to another set of twins Richard Joseph and Robert Joseph, and sister Jeannette. Neighbors were quite fond of the Dion boys, and although the four brothers always referred to each other as “Joe” because of their common middle name, Raymond was distinguishable by his baby blue eyes.
Raymond was raised with a strong Catholic faith which he witnessed through hard work and service to his family, church, and country. As a youngster he delivered newspapers, caddied, and set pins at a local bowling alley. In 1955, he earned both a high school diploma from Waltham High and a vocational degree from Waltham Vocational High before voluntarily enlisting in the US Army. Stationed at Fort Benning GA, Specialist 4th Class Dion was trained as an Artillery Surveyor where he received a Good Conduct Medal and voluntarily helped build a hockey rink during his off-time. Considering himself “the worst shot in this here’s army” and despite the Army’s best pitch to convince him to re-up, he was honorably discharged and returned to Waltham.
While participating in a friend’s wedding, he met the love of his life, Marguerite, who quickly fell for his huge heart, sense of humor, and impressive dancing skills. They courted, married in 1959, and soon moved into a little cape on Mt Walley Rd, just a few doors down from their dear friends, the Simeones. Ray and Marguerite were blessed with a son, David Joseph, in 1964, followed by a daughter, Denise Marie in 1967. Aware their little cape was not an adequate forever-home, Ray moved his family to bucolic Chelmsford in 1971 and expanded the Campanelli ranch by building on a family room and garage and adding meticulous landscaping. This remained Ray’s home for over 50 years until the onset of dementia required his family to make the difficult decision to move him to Bridges of Westford where he received the best possible care, for which his family is eternally grateful.
Ray worked hard his whole life to provide for his family which he saw as his duty and honor. In the early years of his marriage, he drove trucks for Railway Express, took on a morning school bus route, then worked for decades at his brother-in-law’s home improvement company, E.M. Snow, Inc. After retiring, he continued to work at Home Depot where his wide range of trade skills honed after many years of manual labor allowed him to contribute to many departments. After a few years, Ray hung up his hard hat to enjoy a well-deserved respite to spend time with his growing family, root for the Red Sox, Bruins and Patriots, work out to the “Les Miz” soundtrack, and hit the links.
Despite long work days, Ray also made time to work with the local Boy Scouts, the youth of Our Lady’s in Waltham, coach his son David’s hockey teams, volunteer as president of the Chelmsford Hockey Association, attend all his daughter Denise’s cheerleading games, and usher at St. Mary’s in Chelmsford. He was loved and respected by players, parents, and parishioners. His sense of humor was renowned and remained intact throughout his life. His 63+ years of marriage to Marguerite, while sorrowed by the loss of their son David to leukemia in 1988, was full of great joys, notably the marriage of his daughter Denise to Tom Fitzpatrick, the birth of his grandchildren David and Megan, and, of course, his famous hole-in-one.
In addition to his wife, Ray is survived by his daughter Denise and her husband Tom of Groton, their children David and Megan who feel so blessed to have had their Grampy in their lives for so long, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He is welcomed into eternal life by his deceased loved ones, including his parents, siblings, and son, and leaves behind timeless stories, endless smiles, and a well-worn set of golf clubs.
Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 from 3pm to 6pm at Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St, Chelmsford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at 11am at St. Mary Parish, 25 North Rd, Chelmsford. Interment will follow in Pine Ridge Cemetery, 130 Billerica Rd, Chelmsford.
Donations in Ray’s memory to The Paul Center, a summer camp in Chelmsford for young people with special needs, are much appreciated: thepaulcenter.org/.